for watching. we appreciate your ♪ this is "world news." tonight nelson mandela, his struggle and strength healed a nation and changed a world. >> i stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant. >> from a tiny prison cell, he rallied millions against racism and injustice. his long walk to freedom a beacon of hope for generations. >> nothing will stop our date with destiny. >> tonight, the world mourns the passing of an icon. and a good evening to al you.

we welcome you to a special edition of "world news," beginning with breaking news. a titan of the century has died. nelson mandela, the man who taught the modern world you can transform anger into hope. he was 95 and it's not that his death was a surprise but his life continues to astonish us in a master class in living the possibility of a better world. he spent 27 years in prison for his belief in freedom, equality and emerged with a message of generosity toward his oppressors. we have reaction from around the world tonight. first "good morning america" anger robin roberts who has traveled to south africa several times takes a look back at his extraordinary life and unconquerable spirit. >> reporter: nelson mandela, a leader who inspired a nation to hope.

>> all, both black and white, will be able to walk tall. >> reporter: forgive. >> a grateful nation at peace with itself and the world. >> reporter: and believe in a better future. his tribal name given at birth means troublemaker, but on the first day of school, his teacher gave him a new name. >> you must have a christian name. so i said, no, i don't have one. she says you are from today going to be nelson. >> reporter: he was a boxer who became a lawyer and a leading voice in the african national congress, the anc. struggling to end the inequality of apartheid, white ruled south

africa's viciously enforced policy of racial segregation. but in 1960 after police shot and killed 49 protestors, the anc which had always been nonviolent created a military wing under mandela's command. >> there are many people who feel that it's useless and futile for us to continue talking peace and nonviolence against the government. these are savage attacks. >> reporter: the regime determined to maintain white rule saw the inspiring young revolutionary as a threat. >> our struggle is a truly national one. it is a struggle for the right to live. >> reporter: mandela was imprisoned in 1962 and two years later sentenced to life in prison, accused of working to overthrow the government. in court, on trial for his life he said this. >> i have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society. it is an ideal for which i hope

to live for and to see realized, but my lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which i am prepared to die. >> reporter: four miles off the coast of cape town south africa on robben island, he spent most of 27 years cut off from the world but not forgotten. >> to spend 27 years in the prime of your life is a tragedy and i regret in all those years that i have wasted in prison. >> mr. nelson mandela will be released from the prison. >> there is mr. nelson mandela, a free man taking his first steps into a new south africa. >> reporter: released at the age of 72 in 1990. he remained ever vigilant that his country and freedoms rested in the hands of the people. >> i stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant.

>> reporter: and for the people of south africa, mandela's release ushered in a new era of hope and the end of apartheid. >> today the majority of south africa, black and white, recognize that apartheid has no future. >> reporter: in 1994 south african's cast their ballot in the first democratic election. >> this morning applause for the first black voter in history. >> reporter: mandela became the country's president, the first elected by all its people. >> we are all south africans. we have had a good fight, but now this is a time to heal the old wounds and to build a new south africa. >> reporter: after ruling for five years, nelson mandela passed the torch to the next generation and became an elder statesman to the world, a

fighter, a visionary, the voice of his people and a moral compass for us all. >> a moral compass and robin roberts joins us. robin, you were there so many times, talked to his family members. >> several times, the first time ten years ago with my family. we actually went to robben island and stood in his cell and we couldn't father um what it must have been like for him to spend all of those years. on one of my trips talking to his second wife winnie in their home and talking with such passion about the early years and the struggle against apartheid and saying even then he had a bold vision and when i spoke to graca machel, the woman he married on his 80th birthday and i asked her, what is your husband's legacy goes to be and he said a visionary leader and

it is the quality, the quality of leadership. >> the quality of it. i remember his saying once that there is nothing more powerful than the phrase it is not right. >> and he wanted to right the wrongs and give each of us the feeling that we could do that, too. that's so powerful. >> that's right. in our lives, not just in the political world. >> right. >> thanks so much, robin. it's great that you are here with us tonight. we want to go to south africa right now where not long ago president zuma, the president of the country with a simple sentence broke the news to his countrymen. >> our nation has lost its greatest son. as a nation, salutes a life with fearlessness and foifness, a life that changed history. abc's alex marquardt is right there as south african's in the middle of the night are absorbing this news. alex? >> reporter: good evening, diane. this country, south africa, has been plunged into a time of great sadness over the news of

the death of a man so many affectionately called tata madi madiba. his death no great surprise but such a shock to this beacon of hope, this pillar of freedom is no longer with us. there are huge numbers of south africans who have gathered outside of mandela's home in an upscale part of johannesburg. they're dancing and singing struggle song from the apartheid era, the national anthem interspersed with moments of silence. there have been conflicting reports in recent weeks over the health of mandela. as late as tonight one of his daughters said that he was fine. this announcement was made late tonight, just before midnight. now it's well after midnight. many south africans will wake up to this tremendously sad news tomorrow when a period of national mourning will begin for what president zuma called south africa's greatest son. diane? >> thank you so much, alex.

as we said, it's not that his death is a surprise but that we look back at his life and we are stunned with the effect that it had on this world. the news of course touched so many people around the world, including here at home and president obama, who not long ago spoke about the profound effect mandela had on his own life. >> we've lost one of the most influential, courageous and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this earth. he no longer belongs to us. he belongs to the ages. >> and we want to show you a picture now. president obama then 19 years old, a college student, protesting apartheid an campus. he said that was the moment that mandela, quote, gave him a sense of what is possible in this world. sending a jolt of electricity through his homeland but also this nation, america, founded on equality for all. abc's byron pitts now on what mandela meant to the united states.

>> reporter: just four months after he was set free from prison in 1990, nelson mandela set foot in america for the very first time. an 8-city tour starting in new york. it was magical. it was as if malcolm and martin were still alive and the nets had won the world series all in new york all in one day. mandela spoke at yankee stadium. >> you now know who i am. i am a yankee! >> reporter: for many then as now it wasn't so much his or tear skills but the aura of his story that inspired. a story so familiar and inter twined with america, and still so very painful. the anti-apartheid protest of the 80s captivated a new generation on college campuses and communities.

amidst the demonstrations demanding divestment here south africa here was the on going violence there in townships. it took the story of one man to help america better understand the struggle of one nation. mandela reminded the world reconciliation was more powerful than revenge. forgiveness is a gift to be given. the boldness of his vision humbled the powerful in america. >> i said didn't you hate those people once they let you go? he said briefly i did, but when i was walking out of my compound i said to myself, they've had you 27 years. if you hate them when you go through that door, they will still have you. >> reporter: and the famous. >> if you can proceed through life with just a portion of nelson mandela's humility, you will be a huge success. >> reporter: the audacity of mandela's rise also inspired a

young politician from illinois. senator obama visited his cell on robben island when his own destiny was but a dream. back then there was little wonner why watching a 71-year-old man dance could please so many people. it was the walk that preceded it. during his visit to boston 23 years ago i met mr. mandela ever so briefly. there was time for one question. mr. mandela, i asked, what is the one thing in life you know for sure? with that elegant smile he answered, good and evil are always at war. good men must choose. with defiance and dignity in equal measure, nelson mandela chose and america loved him for it. byron pitts, abc news, new york. and byron is here right now. what a wonderful story of your encounter with him.

he always said that courage isn't the absence of fear but the ability to triumph over it. >> exactly right. mandela often said he was a student of gandhi. martin luther king, america's civil rights movement. i think it's fair to say that history will show the student became the teacher. america the world, his classroom. >> every individual life has a lesson. >> yes. >> thank you so much, byron. still ahead on this special edition of "world news," you're going to meet mandela's jailer, a country boy who became a lifelong friend. that's ahead. ♪

[ male announcer ] your eyes.

even at a distance of 10 miles... the length of 146 football fields... they can see the light of a single candle. your eyes are amazing. look after them with centrum silver. multivitamins with lutein and vitamins a, c, and e to support healthy eyes and packed with key nutrients to support your heart and brain, too. centrum silver. for the most amazing parts of you.

♪ nelson mandela standing inside the cell that once held him prisoner and mandela walked out of prison with a lesson for living, saying to walk free is not merely to cast off change but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. he did something behind those prison walls that was a kind of dress rehearsal for what he would do later in the world. abc's david muir one-on-one with the jailer who became his most unlikely friend. >> reporter: crystal brand peers out over the water to the former prison on robben island where he first reported for duty at 18. >> they informed us we're going to meet the biggest criminals. >> reporter: nelson mandela was 60, already in prison for more than a decade, still forced to sleep on the floor. the young jailer's family was

afrikaner. the party that famously and fiercely supported apartheid. but when that young jailer met mandela, he met an elder who would treat the young man with respect and the jailer would slowly offer the same in return. he told us of one of winnie mandela's visits and her requests. >> she said please can i show mandela from a distance. i said, no, no. >> reporter: no children allowed, not even mandela's precious new grandbaby. what winnie didn't know was that while she waited in a holding area, that jailer had secretly brought the baby to mandela. >> there were tears coming out of his eyes. >> nobody knew? >> nobody knew. >> reporter: over the years there would be many secrets between the jailer and his friend. the whole wheat bread he would bring from home, the pan teen oil smuggled for his hair and the secret code. >> i would show him this. mandela immediately know i'm bugged. i was bugged a lot of times. >> you lied to keep your job and to keep your friendship with mandela? >> that's correct.

>> reporter: during all of those isolating years on robben island the prison guard said there was one view from the prison courtyard of the country that nelson mandela loved and that was the very top of table mountain here in cape town behind me, that he would look to this view wondering if he would ever be free. but mandela was always preparing for that day. he asked the jailer to teach him afrikaans. the language of the people in power. on the day mandela was released, his speech was delivered in afrikaans. mandela famously said, if you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. if you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart. >> that's what he did and that's what he would strive for and he was loved for and would fight for while he was in prison, to have people live in peace. >> reporter: the jailer who became a trusted friend now remembering nelson mandela. that most unlikely friend, the jailer standing on that hill

with me in cape town telling me that he'll never forget that bond they formed. of course, diane, that secret code, that little reference to his ear that they were being bugged. his allegiance was to his loyal friend, nelson mandela. >> he kept teaching over and over again, consider the possibilities that even your enemies can change and give them a chance to change. thank you, david. when we come back here, nelson mandela, his lasting imprint on the world. george stephanopoulos standing by. ♪ it's not the "limit the cash i earn every month" card. it's not the "i only earn decent rewards at the gas station" card. it's the no-games, no-signing up, everyday-rewarding, kung-fu-fighting, silver-lightning-in-a-bottle, bringing-home-the-bacon cash back card. this is the quicksilver card from capital one.

unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, everywhere, every single day. so ask yourself, what's in your wallet? of their type 2 diabetes with non-insulin victoza®. for a while, i took a pill to lower my blood sugar, but it didn't get me to my goal. so i asked my doctor about victoza®. he said victoza® is different than pills. victoza® is proven to lower blood sugar and a1c. it's taken once-a-day, any time, and comes in a pen. and the needle is thin. victoza® is not for weight loss, but it may help you lose some weight. victoza® is an injectable prescription medicine that may improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes when used with diet and exercise. it is not recommended as the first medication to treat diabetes and should not be used in people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. victoza® has not been studied

with mealtime insulin. victoza® is not insulin. do not take victoza® if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if you are allergic to victoza® or any of its ingredients. symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat, fainting or dizziness, very rapid heartbeat, problems breathing or swallowing, severe rash or itching. tell your doctor if you get a lump or swelling in your neck. serious side effects may happen in people who take victoza®, including inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which may be fatal. stop taking victoza® and call your doctor right away if you have signs of pancreatitis, such as severe pain that will not go away in your abdomen or from your abdomen to your back, with or without vomiting. tell your doctor about all the medicines you take and if you have any medical conditions. taking victoza® with a sulfonylurea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. the most common side effects are nausea, diarrhea, and headache. some side effects can lead to dehydration,

which may cause kidney problems. if your pill isn't giving you the control you need ask your doctor about non-insulin victoza®. it's covered by most health plans. where does the united states get most of its energy? is it africa? the middle east? canada? or the u.s.? the answer is... the u.s. ♪ most of america's energy comes from right here at home. take the energy quiz. energy lives here. and now "good morning america" co-anchor george stephanopoulos joins us. george, did he change the world? >> there is no question about it. he changed the world through the power of example. he always said he wasn't a prophet. we saw that in robin's piece.

of course he was but what made him special was he was a supremely idealistic prophet married to a supremely practical politician. and that was the heart of his success. he had the flexibility of a politician but the vision of a prophet. >> we were talking about the fact that he wielded everything in his power, how he dressed, smiled and danced. >> especially after he left prison. he knew that every move he made would be watched and he was sending a signal to his people and the world. think about that man. here's the man who left prison to be elected president and then said like george washington i am walking away from power. such an important example for his people. >> he tried to teach reconciliation instead of war and? >> and it ended up working but remember he also said that nonviolence is just a tactic. it's not a principle. he believed in it and he did it because he thought it would work, and it did. >> someone said that maybe he's the president of the republic of morality at the end of the day and that does transcend the globe.

>> yes. >> thank you so much, george. when we come back, nelson mandela, another message he had for all of us about your life and duty and peace. ♪ i have a great fit with my dentures. i love kiwis. i've always had that issue with the seeds getting under my denture. super poligrip free -- it creates a seal of the dentures in my mouth. even well-fitting dentures let in food particles. super poligrip is zinc free. with just a few dabs, it's clinically proven to seal out more food particles so you're more comfortable and confident while you eat. super poligrip free made the kiwi an enjoyable experience. [ charlie ] try zinc free super poligrip. afghanistan in 2009.

on the u.s.s. saratoga in 1982. [ male announcer ] once it's earned, usaa auto insurance is often handed down from generation to generation because it offers a superior level of protection and because usaa's commitment to serve current and former military members and their families is without equal. begin your legacy. get an auto insurance quote. usaa. we know what it means to serve. a body at rest tends to stay at rest... while a body in motion tends to stay in motion. staying active can actually ease arthritis symptoms. but if you have arthritis, staying active can be difficult. prescription celebrex can help relieve arthritis pain so your body can stay in motion. because just one 200mg celebrex a day can provide 24 hour relief for many with arthritis pain and inflammation. plus, in clinical studies, celebrex is proven to improve daily physical function so moving is easier. celebrex can be taken with or without food. and it's not a narcotic.

you and your doctor should balance the benefits with the risks. all prescription nsaids, like celebrex, ibuprofen, naproxen and meloxicam have the same cardiovascular warning. they all may increase the chance of heart attack or stroke, which can lead to death. this chance increases if you have heart disease or risk factors such as high blood pressure or when nsaids are taken for long periods. nsaids, like celebrex, increase the chance of serious skin or allergic reactions or stomach and intestine problems, such as bleeding and ulcers, which can occur without warning and may cause death. patients also taking aspirin and the elderly are at increased risk for stomach bleeding and ulcers. don't take celebrex if you have bleeding in the stomach or intestine, or had an asthma attack, hives, other allergies to aspirin, nsaids or sulfonamides. get help right away if you have swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing. tell your doctor your medical history. and find an arthritis treatment for you. visit celebrex.com and ask your doctor about celebrex. for a body in motion.

♪ president mandela said when you have done your duty, you can rest for all eternity. thank you so much for watching us tonight. for some of of you we say good night and others we hope you stay with us for more of our special broadcast. abc news will have continuing coverage of nelson mandela's death, a special edition of "nightline" later. for those of you staying with us now, we'll be back after a short break. for everyone else, a good night.

♪ ♪

and why can you move the tv out here? the wireless receiver. i got that when i switched to u-verse. but why? because it's so much better than cable. it's got more hd channels, more dvr space. yeah, but i mean, how did you know? i researched. no, i-i told you. no. yeah! no. the importan and i got you this visor. you made a visor! yes! that i'll never wear. ohh. [ male announcer ] get u-verse tv for just $19 a month for two years with qualifying bundles. rethink possible.

♪ a good evening to you and welcome back to this special edition of "world news." tonight we are remembering nelson mandela, a man who changed this world. president obama saying just hours ago he no longer belongs to us, he belongs to the ages. at 95, his death not a surprise, but the lessons of his life still reverbrating around the globe, that long walk to freedom, brimming with humility, resilient, a determination to forgive. and there has been a huge outpouring of emotion, reaction from around the world tonight, our team there starting with abc's chief foreign correspondent terry moran who